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Providing a safe environment for lone workers

Published on May 8, 2024

Definition


Lone worker safety is an emerging topic imperative to many industries and workers. Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. These workers include park rangers, roofers, after-hour security guards, paramedics, delivery drivers and more. With the rise in remote working and post-pandemic company structures, consideration should be made for providing a safe work environment for lone workers.

Challenges


The biggest challenge with working alone is that the worker becomes more vulnerable, especially in cases of chemical and environmental hazards. An added hazard of lone working is the inability to ask a fellow worker or person to obtain assistance or render aid in a medical emergency.

The most common dangers in lone working are workplace violence, heavy lifting, working with electricity and chemicals and working from heights. The most common injuries sustained by lone workers result from slips, trips, falls, violence, falls from heights and being struck by moving objects.

Safety tips


Here are some steps to help reduce the frequency and severity of workplace-related injuries:

Risk assessment

Identify the risks related to the working environment. Evaluate the hazards on a scale of low, medium and high. The evaluation should also include who might be harmed and how, procedures to prevent harm, and actions to reduce risk.

Lone working policy

A lone worker policy is the next step after assessing the risks in the workplace. This policy should explain risks, describe the organization's commitment, define responsibilities and provide guidance for reporting incidents, as well as support and contact info for the workers to reference.

The policy should also explain how the workers should act in certain situations, including how the lone worker should check in with their supervisor and how often, what to do in an emergency, including evacuation procedures and who to contact and what to do when another party shows signs of aggression.

Training

Once the lone worker policy is in place, the employer should start training new and current employees. This training should be conducted regularly and should be revised when necessary. There are significant benefits to lone working training. Training can challenge complacent attitudes amongst lone workers and help minimize the escalation/severity of an accident or incident by knowing how to respond and increase well-being and productivity.

Future solutions


There have been increased discussions revolving around solutions and technology for lone workers. Wearable technology and AI pave the way for a safer environment while working alone. One solution is a safety app that monitors staff and allows employees to signal for help.

With the push of a button, the worker can communicate with the emergency response teams and the worker's supervisor. Real-time location tracking is also a feature many apps are relying on to monitor a lone worker's safety.

Another example is fall detection wearable technology. Slips, trips and falls are among the most common workplace hazards and injuries. With this technology, a supervisor can receive an alert if a worker happens to fall while working alone.


References


This document is intended for general information purposes and should not be construed as advice or opinions on any specific facts or circumstances. The content of this document is made available on an “as is” basis, without warranty of any kind. This document cannot be assumed to contain every acceptable safety and compliance procedure or that additional procedures might not be appropriate under the circumstances. Markel does not guarantee that this information is or can be relied on for compliance with any law or regulation, assurance against preventable losses, or freedom from legal liability. This publication is not intended to be legal, underwriting, or any other type of professional or technical advice. Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser or trained professional. Markel does not guarantee any particular outcome and makes no commitment to update any information herein, or remove any items that are no longer accurate or complete. Furthermore, Markel does not assume any liability to any person or organization for loss or damage caused by or resulting from any reliance placed on this content. Markel® is a registered trademark of Markel Group Inc. © 2024 Markel Service, Incorporated. All rights reserved.

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